Auxiliary engine drive for drawworks



July 22, 1941. s. w. WEBSTER AUXILIARY ENGIN E DRIVE FOR DRAWWORKS FiledMay 6, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l j/wua M/ h faarm INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY July 22, 1941. s. w. WEBSTER v 2,249,373

I AUXILIARY ENGINE DRIVE FOR DRAWWORKS Filed May 6, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet2 7//////////////////J /I//I/I///l//IIA 5 F l. 1 I 84a.

JA/vua W Maine,

IN VENTOR.

. Y ATTORNEY Patented July 22, 1941 AUXILIARY ENGINE DRIVE FOR DRAWWORKSSamuel W. Webster, Houston, Tex., assignor to Emsco Derrick & EquipmentCompany, Los Angcles, Calif a corporation of California Application May6, 1939, Serial No. 272,254

3 Claims.

My invention relates to drive means commonly employed in derricks in thedrilling of oil wells for driving the hoisting apparatus for hoistingvarious tools, drill pipe, casing, etc., and for driving the rotarymachine.

My invention relates more particularly to a unique combination whichincludes a drawworks, a drive connection whereby the drawworks isdrivably connected to the rotary machine, and an auxiliary drive meansconnected to the drive connection between the drawworks and the rotarymachine, the combination being so constructed and arranged that thedrawworks may be employed to drive the rotary machine, the auxiliarydrive means may be employed to drive the rotary machine, or theauxiliary drive means may be employed to operate the drawworks.

I believe my-invention to be broadly new not only in its entirety but inthe several sub-combinations and parts which are employed therein. Inaddition to the three main parts referred to above my invention alsocompehends the inclusion of other parts and elements. I wish myinvention to be broadly construed in accordance with the appended claimsand not be limited to particular details of construction which shall bedescribed hereinafter.

Inorder that the features and advantages of my invention may be betterunderstood, I will make brief reference to the oil drilling industry. Atthe present time oil wells are drilled to a considerable depth, and inorder to raise and lower the various parts, particularly the drill pipe,at optimum efliciency, it is necessary to have a drawworks with a numberof different speeds and powers. When the well is relatively shallow thepower required to raise the drill pipe is quite small as compared withthe power required to raise the drill pipe when the well is at aconsiderable depth. Also, the power required to drive the rotary machineis usually considerably less than that required to handle a long stringof drill pipe. For this reason, in the common type of drawworks now inuse today employing a heavy steam engine for operating the drawworks,there is a considerable waste of power when the rotary table is beingrotated and the hoisting apparatus of the drawworks is not in operationor when the hoisting apparatus is required to handle but relativelylight loads;

It is an object of my invention to provide a drawworks and rotarymachine combination in which the drawworks may be driven by a mainengine capable of delivering great power and in which the drawworks orthe rotary machine may be operated by a second engine called anauxiliary engine, which is of considerable less horse power but is ofsuflicient horse power to operate the rotary machine or the drawworkswhen handling light loads.

It is another object of my invention to provide a drawworks and rotarymachine combination in which the auxiliary drive means or auxiliaryengine may be employed to operate the rotary machine even during thetime that the hoisting apparatus of the drawworks is in operation. 'Thisis a valuable feature of my invention and enables various operations tobe performed which cannot be performed with the ordinary drawworks, suchfor example as drilling up in order to loosen a stuck drill pipe; thatis to say, the auxiliary engine may be employed to rotate the drillpipe, while the hoisting apparatus of the dr-awworks is employed toraise the drill pipe at the same time. This method has been found to bequite elfective in loosening stuck drill pipe.

It is an object of my invention to provide a rotary drawworks in whichtwo engine drives are provided, either of which may be employed to driveeither the drawworks or the rotary machine so that in case of anemergency when one engine fails the other may be employed, thuseliminating shut down of the apparatus.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a drawworkscombination having means whereby a robishaw reel or other drum may beoperated, preferably independently of the other apparatus so that itwill be unnecessary to have a number of shafts of the drawworksrotatingduring this operation.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide'a combinationincluding a drawworks, a rotary machine, and a drive connection betweenthe drawworks and the rotary machine, which combination includes anauxiliary engine preferably placed on the derrick floor and operativelyconnected to the drive means between the drawworks and the rotarymachine so that when desired suitable clutch means may be operated sothat the auxiliary engine may be employed to drive either the rotarymachine or the draw works.

It is another object of my invention to provide a combination of thecharacter pointed out in the preceding paragraph in which the drivemeans between the rotary machine and the drawworks includes atransmission which transmits power from the drawworks to the rotarymachine and with which transmission the auxiliary engine is connected,the transmission being so designed that the auxiliary engine may beemployed so that power delivered to the transmission from the auxiliaryengine may be used to operate either the rotary machine or thedrawworks.

It is another object of my invention to provide a combination of thecharacterpointed out in either of the paragraphs in which a sand reel.robishaw reel, or the like. is placed at the side of the derrick floorand is operated either by the drawworksor the auxiliary engine, the reelor drum being clearly and conveniently visible to the driller so that hemay watch its operation.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a combination ofthe character pointed out in which the auxiliary engine is placed on thederrick fioor and in which the controls" for the auxiliary engine andalso for the main engine extend in the usual drillers station beside thedrawworks so that either of'the engines may be conveniently operated.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent in thecourse of the following description of different forms of my invention,which I have chosen for the purpose of illustrating the various featuresand advantases thereof.

Refen'ing to the drawings:

Fig; 1 is a plan view diagrammatically illustrating the combinationincorporating .the features' of my invention.

' Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated by the line2-2 'of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view through the two shaftsconstituting apart of the transmission, certain of the'elements being insection to illustrate the details thereof.

Fig. 4 is a ditic plan view of an alternative form of my invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view partly in section showing thetransmission of the alternative form of my invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, numeral ii represents thedrawworks which is preferably placed on the floor of the den'ick.Numeral. l2 represents a rotary machine which is placed over the-top ofthe well and through which the drill pipe is extended. The numeral itrepresents a main .engine which is ordinarily provided for driving thedrawworks II. The numeral i3 represents a transmission which is emp oyedin or as a part of 'the rotary drive means or drive connection betweenthe drawworks Ii and r0 tary machine II, as will later be described indetail. The numeral it represents an auxiliary drive means or auxiliarydrive en ine. The numeral I I represent a sand reel or robisha suchevent the features and advantages of this .part of my invention wouldnot be available for 21 having upright bearing supporting structuresdrive which, in my invention. is placed at one side of the derrickfioor, as shown. where it is accessible to view ,by the driller whostands in his usual station atone corner of th drawworks as designatedby the numeral i8. The numeral l3represents the drive connection wherebythe sand reel or robishaw drive i! ma be driven.

These parts just described constitute the main elements of my invention.It will be understood that my invention in its broadest aspect includesthe provision of the auxiliary drive means in combination with thedrawworks and rotary machine and that other parts. if their features andadvantages were not required. might be elim nated. The other parts andfeatures. such as the sand reel, or robishaw drive i1, and the drivemeans l9 therefore might be eliminated but in 30. The numeral 33represents a jack shaft which extends in ahorizontal plane across thedrawworks in a position near the rear part thereof, being rotatablysupported by bearings 34 mounted on the upright structures 30. There isalso a line shaft 36 which is mounted in a horizontal position parallelto the jack shaft but in a position forwardly thereof and higher thanthe v Jack shaft. This line shaftis supported by bear-'- ings 31.Positioned forwardly of the two shafts 33 and 33 is a drum shaft whichextends parallel to the other two shafts and which is sup.- ported bybearings 4i, and which has secured thereto a hoisting drum 43 which,according to usual practice, is provided with brake structures 44operated by suitable brake operating mechanism well known in theindustry-and which, for [the sake of simplicity, has not beenillustrated.

The jack shaft 33 has a jack shaft drive sprocket 41 which is driven bythe main engine H through a sprocket chain 49. This sprocket andcommonly employed in the industry and which may be applied by anyskilled mechanic. Since the invention does not relate to the provisionof clutch operating mechanism nor to the details of constructionthereof, and since the illustrating of such parts on the drawings mightlead to confusion, these parts have not been illustrated.

The line shaft 36may be driven from the jack shaft by a primary lineshaft drive Si or a secondary line shaft drive 52, the first mentionedline shaft drive including a sprocket 53 rotatably mounted on the jackshaft 33, a sprocket 54 fixed to the line shaft 36, and a sprocket chain55 extending over these two sprockets; and the second mentioned lineshaft drive including a sprocket 51 rotatable on the jack shaft 33, asprocket 58 fixed tothe line shaft 36, and a sprocket chain 59 extendingover these two sprockets. Either drive may be employed, depending uponthe positions of clutches 60 and ti mounted on the jack shaft 33 andadapted to lock either the sprocket 53 or the sprocket 31 to the jackshaft.

The drum shaft 40 may be driven by a primary drum shaft drive 64 or asecondary drum shaft drive 65, the former including a sprocket 66 fixedto the line shaft, a sprocket 61 rotatable on the drum shaft, and achain 68 extending around these two sprockets; and the latter driveincluding a sprocket l0 fixed to the line shaft, 9. sprocket Iirotatable on the drum shaft. and a chain 12 extending around thesprockets iii and Ii. Either of these drives may be brought intooperation by the actuation of a clutch 13 or a clutch H which locks thesprockets 61 and II respectively to the drum shaft It.

For the purpose of forming a rotary drive means or driving connectionbetween the drawworks and the rotary machine and the auxiliary engine,my invention provides a rotary machine driven sprocket 80 rotatablymounted on one of the shafts of the drawworks and preferably the jackshaft 33, there being a clutch 8|. whereby the sprocket 80 may be lockedto the jack shaft 83. Rotatable on the drum shaft 40 is an idlersprocket member 82 which is operatively connected to the sprocket 80 bymeans of a chain 83. The sprocket member 82 is connected by means of asprocket chain 84 to a rotatable member 85 of the transmission I5, thechain 84 extending over a sprocket 88 thereof. The rotary machine has asprocket 81 which is connected by a chain 88 to a sprocket 89 whichforms a part of the transmission I5. The parts 80 to 88 and thetransmission I5 constitute the drive connection between the drawworksand the rotary machine. The parts 80 to 84 comprise a drive connectionbetween the transmission and the drawworks, and the parts 81 and 88constitute a drive connection between the rotary machine andtransmission.

The transmission of my invention includes a drive shaft 9| and acountershaft or driven shaft 92, the drive shaft 9| preferably extendingfrom the auxiliary engine I8 and supported thereby, and the countershaftbeing preferably supported by bearings 93 supported by a base 94 whichalso supports the auxiliary engine I8. To make these parts a firm andintegral structure, the base 94 is preferably secured to the frame work21 of the drawworks by suitable securing means, such as indicated at 95in Figs. 1 and 2.

The rotatable member 85 which includes the sprocket 88 also includes asprocket 91. This rotatable member 85 is rotatably supported on thedrive shaft 9| so that it may rotate independently thereof. There isprovided, however, a clutch 98 having suitable clutch operatingmechanism 99 which may be operated to lock the rotatable member 85 tothe shaft 9|, thus enabling the auxiliary drive means or auxiliaryengine I6 to drive the rotatable member 85. The

sprocket 89 which is connected to the rotarymachine by the chain 88 isrotatable on the countershaft 92. For the purpose of locking thesprocket 89 to the countershaft 92, so as to be rotated therewith, thereis provided a clutch I having suitable clutch operating means IOI.Secured to the countershaft 92 is a sprocket I03 and extending over thesprocket I03 and the sprocket 9'! of the rotatable member 85 is asprocket chain I04. This drive connection between the rotatable member85 and the shaft 92 causes the shaft 92 to be driven whenever therotatable memben 85 is rotated.

Mounted on the base 94 is a bevel gear box I08 having a drive shaft I01,a driven shaft I08, and bevel gears I09. The drive shaft I01 may bedriven by the countershaft 92 by suitable operation of a clutch H0. Thedriven shaft I08 is connected by sprocket and chain means 2 to the sandreel or robishaw drive I1; thus, whenever the clutch H0 is engaged, thedrive Il may be operated by the transmission.

The numeral 5 represents the control for the main engine I4, and thenumeral IIG represents the controls for the auxiliary engine I8. It willbe seen that these controls extend to the drillers station I8 at thecorner of the drawworks.

My invention just described may be operated as follows: When employingthe main engine I4 to drive the drawworks, the clutch 50 is engaged. 76

The line shaft is driven through either the primary or secondary drives5| or 52, and the drum shaft is driven through either of the primary orsecondary drives 84 or 85 between the line shaft or the drum shaft. Ifthe rotary machine is not to be operated at this time by the drawworks.the clutch 8| is disengaged. If the rotary machine is to be operated bythe drawworks, the clutch 8| is engaged and the clutch I00 of thetransmission I5 is also engaged. When the parts are in these positions(the clutch 98 being disengaged) the chain 83 drives the rotatablemember 82, the rotatable member 82 drives the chain 84, which in turndrives the rotatable member 85. the rotatable member 85 drives the chainI04, which in turn drives the auxiliary shaft 92 by means of thesprocket I03. The clutch I00 being at this time engaged causes the shaft92 to drive the sprocket 89 and thus the sprocket 89 drives the sprocket81 of the rotary machine through the medium of the chain 88. If the drum43 is not being rotated both the clutches and 8| are disengaged with theresult that the only part.

of the drawworks which is being rotated is the jack shaft 33 and theparts which are employed to drive the rotary machine.

With these same parts in operation, the drum I'I may also be rotated byengaging the clutch 0. If it is not desired to have the rotary machinerotating, the clutch I00 may be disengaged and then the drawworks will,through the parts described, be employed solely for the purpose ofoperating the drum I1.

If it is desired to employ the auxiliary engine to operate the rotarymachine, the clutch 8| is disengaged, thus disconnecting the drivingrelationship between the drive connection connecting the transmissionand the drawworks. The clutch 98 is engaged so that the drive shaft 9|of the auxiliary engine I8 may be employed to drive the rotatable member85. At this time, with the clutch I00 engaged, the auxiliary engine maybe employed to drive the rotary machine. With the parts in thesepositions, the clutch IIO may be engaged and the auxiliary engineemployed to drive the drum II. If the rotary machine is not to beoperated, the clutch I00 may be disengaged. At this time the auxiliaryengine may be employed solely for the purpose of operating the drum I I.During the operation just described the main engine I4 may beindependently employed for operating the drawworks, such, for example,as would be required when drilling in an upward direction such, forexample, as to loosen the stuck drill pipe.

If it is desired to employ the auxiliary engine to operate thedrawworks, such as might be done when the main engine failed or whenvery light loads, which would not require the service of the heavy mainengine I4, were being handled, the clutch 50 is disengaged, thusdisconnecting the sprocket 41 from the jack shaft 33. The clutch 8| isengaged. thus connecting the drive between the transmission and thedrawworks. The clutch 98 is engaged in order to enable the drive shaft9| to drive the rotatable member 85. If the rotary machine I2 is not tobe operated, the clutch I00 is disengaged. Also, if the drum I1 is notto be operated, the clutch H0 is disengaged. With the parts in thesepositions, the auxiliary engine drives the jack shaft 33 and thusoperates the drawworks. By engagement of the clutch I00, the rotarymachine could also be operated and by engagement of the clutch I I0 thedrum II could also be operated.

\ With the auxiliary engine and transmission positioned on the derrickfloor it is conveniently accessible and within the view of the driller,and furthermore, does not require building of separate foundations orsupporting means such as would be required if the auxiliary engine andtransmission were placed outside the derrick. A further advantage ofthis arrangement disclosed in Fig. 1 is that the drum i1 is convenientlylocated where it is within the view of the driller and its operationtherefore better controlled.

In Figs. 4 and 5, I show an alternative form of my invention andcorresponding parts are designated by numerals which correspond tosimilar or identical parts in the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1to 3, inclusive, with the exception that a suffix a has been added toeach numeral. In this form of my invention the jack shaft 33a is xtendedoutwardly from the upright 30a and the rotary drive sprocket 80a isplaced on the extending end of the shaft. The transmission [5a (which inthis form of my invention is of a different design, as will be explainedshortly) is placed beside the drawworks,

as is the auxiliary engine Ilia and base 94a. In

this form of my invention, the sand reel, or robishaw drive, or drum ila. is placed to the rear of the drawworks and is operated by sprocketand chain means I l2a which includes a sprocket 2b which may be lockedto the jack shaft 33a by a clutch ll2c.

In this form of my invention, the transmission includes a rotatablemember 85a having a sprocket 86a driven by a chain 84a. This rotatablemember 85a is rotatable on the drive shaft Sla but may be locked theretoby the clutch 98a. Rotatably mounted on the rotatable member 85a is anidler member or idler sprocket 85b which may be locked to the rotatablemember 8511 by means of a clutch 85c. Extending over the sprocket 85b isthe chain 88a which extends to the sprocket 81a of the rotary machine.

In this form of my invention the countershaft 92 is eliminated and asimpler construction is employed. The mode of operation, however, isidentical to that of the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3,inclusive, and the same drives may be obtained by operating the clutch98a and 850 in the same manner as the clutches 98 and H10 were operated.The essential difference of operation in this form of my invention isthat the reel Fla is driven directly from the jack shaft 33 whenever theclutch 2c is engaged. It will be seen that either the main enmeans, arotary machine having a driven sprocket means, and an additionaldrivable means, the combination of: supporting means carrying a pair ofauxiliary shafts in side by side parallel relation; 9. dual sprocket andassociated clutch means on one of said shafts; a chain connecting saiddual sprocket with one of said sprocket means; a first sprocket on theother of said shafts and havingmeans to connect the same forsimultaneous rotation; a chain connecting said first sprocket with saiddual sprocket; a second sprocket and associated clutch means on saidother of said shafts; a chain connecting said second sprocket and theother of sprocket means; an auxiliary engine connected to shaft havingsaid dual sprocket and associated clutch means thereon and meansincluding a clutch to connect the other of said shafts to saidadditional drivable means.

2. In an auxiliary drive for use in a derrick between a drawworks havinga drive sprocket, a rotary machine having a driven sprocket, and anadditional drivable means, the combination of: supporting means carryinga pair of auxiliary shafts inside by side parallel relation; a dualsprocket and associated clutch means on one of .said shafts; a chainconnecting said dual sprocket with one of said drive sprockets; a firstsprocket on the other of said shafts and having means to connect thesame for simultaneous rotation; a chain connecting said first sprocketwith said dual sprocket; a second sprocket and associated clutch meanson said other of said shafts; a chain connecting said second sprocketand said driven sprocket; an auxiliary engine connected to shaft havingsaid dual sprocket and associated clutch means thereon; and means inginemay be employed to drive the drum "a or eluding a clutch to connect theother of said shafts to said additional drivable means.

3. In an auxiliary drive for use in a derrick between a drawworks havinga drive sprocket means, a rotary machine having a driven sprocket means,and an additional drivable means, the combination of: supporting meanscarrying a pair of auxiliary shafts in side by side parallel relation; adual sprocket and associated clutch means on one of said shafts; achainconnecting said dual sprocket with one of said sprocket means; afirst sprocket on the other of said shafts and having means to connectthe same for simultaneous rotation; a chain connecting said firstsprocket with said dual sprocket; a second sprocket associated clutchmeans on said other of said shafts; a chain connecting said secondsprocket and the other of said sprocket means; an auxiliary engineconnected to one of said shafts so that by operation of said engine adriving force will be transmitted to such shaft; and means including aclutch to connect the other of said shafts to said additional drivablemeans.

SAMUEL W. WEBSTER.

